Apparatus for resoling footwear



Oct. 5, 1943. G. D. NEVILLS 2,330,989

' APPARATUS FOR RESOLING FOOTWEAR Filed March 4, 1942 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 JNVENTOR PER FIG. 2. GUY D. NEVILLS,

Oct. 5, 1943. s. D. NEVILLS APPARATUS FOR RESOLING FOOTWEAR Filed March 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG; 3.

5 ww. T mm SW. T LILA m WV & D D Y w 6PM .H R WWW 8 m F Patented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,330,989 APPARATUS FOR RESOLING FOOTWEAR Guy D. Nevills, Boulder, 0010. I Application March 4, 1942, Serial No. 433,253

16 Claims.

of rubber or like plastic material on and afiixing such sole to an article of footwear.

A further object of'the invention is to provide an improved sole mould susceptible of convenient adjustment into marginal conformitywith an article of foot-wear to be soled or repaired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sole mould adapted for use inthe vulcanizing of rubber soles directly on and to articles of foot-wear. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sole mould arranged to form traction cleats on the soles of foot-wear treated therein.

' A further object of the invention is to provide improved means in a sole mould for aligning the margin of a new sole with the outline of an article of foot-wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for the pressure-positioning of an article of. foot-wear in or relative to a shoe mould.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture, positive and eificient in use, adopted for employment in the repair of foot-Wear of various types, sizes, and specific constructions, and which is arranged for cooperation with vulcanizing equipment of conventional type. o A

With these and other objects in view, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinationsand arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and. claimed, and

as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mould as assembled and arranged for practical use.

Figure 2 is across section taken on the-indicated line 22 of Figure, l and showing an article of footwear as positioned for treatment in the mould.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the indipartly in section, taken on the indicated line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken longitudinally through a pressure foot assembly advantageously employed with the other elementsof theinvention.

Figure 7 is a plan view taken substantially on the indicated line of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view, taken substantially on the'indicated line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Inthe manufacture and repair of foot-wear, it has become a well-established practice to affix wear soles of rubber or like material directly to the welt without stitching, peggin'g, or nailing, and apparatus suitable for the heat-treating and consequentvulcanizing of such soles is commonly and quite generally available. When new footwear is manufactured, it may be feasible to provide a sole mould for each size and shape of the product, but in the repair and rehabilitation of worn foot-wear it is important that sole moulds be available in a form which permitsbf their convenient adjustment throughout a wide, range of foot-wear sizes and shapes, and the instant invention is 'directedftothe provision ofsuch a mould wherein a new sole may be shaped to'conform with the outline of and cured in position on the article to be repaired.

Asshown in the drawings, theelements of the improvement are carried in large part by and arranged'forassociation with a base or matrix plate Ill of jsuitable heat-conducting material, such as metal. The plate I!) preferably has a smooth, plane'under surface adopted to engage against, andrest in heat-conducting relation on the upper surface of a vulcanizingplateor table "I I, so that heat from said latter element may be transmitted to and through the plate If] for curing and setting of, the plastic material wherefrom the new wear sole is to be formed. A central portion of the upper surface of the plate I0 is Worked to provide suitable channels I: for the formation of ribs or cleats on the forward'portion of the finished sole, and the channels l2 may be of any specific pattern and arrangement suitable to their purpose and intersect the upper surface of the plate Ill to an extent greater than the maximum size of sole contemplated for formation by. the mould. The V-shaped, forwardlydiverging, parallel arrangement of relatively wide channels l2 illustrated by the drawings is simple and particularly desirable for tractive effect on r ubberlboots andlike articles of foot-wean f. Adjacent one end of the plate I!) and in spaced relation with the plate portion intersected by the channels l2, a heel mould I3 is formed in intersecting relation with the plate upper surface, and the face of said heel mould may be provided with, upstanding ribs or lugs M, in suchv specific 'arrangementand pattern as may be desired, to

mould grooves and depressions in the finished heel surface and enhance the tractive effect. The platecportion between the heel mould l3 and the channels I2 is inclined and extends adjacent the heel mouldsomewhatabove the normal plane of the plate surface to provide a conventional to form a shoulder on the finished heel.

instep in the finished sole, and the elevated margin of said inclined portion is intersected by longitudinally-disposed, upwardly-opening grooves or notches l5 adapted to mould reenforcing ribs connecting between the instep portion and the forward heel margin of the finished sole.

The upstanding, marginal outline of the heel is determined by a cup removably and replace- 7 ably associated with the plate I0 and comprising a vertical wall portion l6 conforming in outline with and adapted to fit snugly about the heel portion of the article to be repaired, and said wall opens forwardly to conform with the instep portion of the plate l0 and is preferably formed with an inwardly-offset shoulder l1 positioned adjacent the lower margin of its inner surface The heel cup may be associated in the desired relation with the plate I0 in'any suitable or convenient manner, and is shown as provided with a flat lower surface adapted to bear directly against the upper surface of said plate and with a plurality of laterally and rearwardly projecting cars 18 suitably apertured or notched to receive bolts and screws I9 whereby said cup may be removably secured to-the plate with its wall l6 positioned to'conform with the outline of the heel mould l3. Pinned as at 20 to the instep portion of the plate Iii in substantial alignment with the open ends of the'heel-cup wall IS, a pair of adjustable flanges 2| are disposed in spaced, par-- allel, upstandingrelation to engage against the opposite sides of the welt sole instep portion of the articleto be repaired, and adjusting screws ZZthreadedly engage through posts 23 rising in fixed relation from the instep portion of the plate l0 outwardly of the flanges 2| to bear at their inner ends'ag'ainst and adjustably position the forwardly extending portions of said flanges. The forward ends of the flanges 2| extend beyond the screws 22 .and'are bent to diverge outwardly somewhat to conform in general with the corresponding shoe sole outline and the free ends of a flexible band or strip 24 engage the inner surfaces, of said diverging flange portions to position said band 24 asa loop on and in upstanding relation with the portion of the plate intersected by the channels l2. The band 24 may be 'of any material suitable to its purpose, such as strip metal, and is sufficiently flexible as to readily conform with the outline of a welt sole portion forwardly of the instep, and said band isengaged with its inner surface against the outer margin of the welt sole of an article-to be repaired, the lower margin of the band 24 resting on the upper surfaces of the plate I0, and being initially held in such adjusted position by friction of its freeends against the inner surfaces of the flanges 2| when the screws 22 are tightened against the instep portion of the welt sole.

To position, steady, and hold the loop portion of the band 24 in the desired adjusted relation with a welt sole, a plurality of clips 25 are ad-' justably and clampably associated with the plate In exteriorly of said band. Each of theclips 25 is preferably an L-shaped member having a long- ;er arm slidably engaging the surface of the plate l0 and a. shorter, vertically-upstanding arm disposed to bear'against an outer surface of the band 24 and formed with an inwardly-offset hook 26 on its upper end positioned to engage over the upper margin of said band so that pressure applied to hold the longer arm of the clip against the surface of the plate In will act through'engagement of the hook26, against the upper margin of the band 24 to clamp said band downwardly against the matrix plate. The clips 25 are spaced along the loop portion of the band 24 in such number as may be practical or desirable, and the adjacent clips on a long side of the band loop may be arranged for simultaneous clamping to the plate ID by means of a clamp bar 2'! above and extending across their longer arms in intersected relation with a threaded stud 28 rising from the plate It] for cooperation with a Wing-nut 29 whereby the bar 21 may be clamped to and'against said clps.

the curved portion of the band 24, the longer arms of said clips may be formed with longitudinal slots 30 arranged to engage'about' and accommodatea threaded stud 2B rising from the plate ID for cooperation with a wing-nut 29 thereby positioned to bear against the upper surface of the clip arm and directly. clamp the clip against the plate. The clips 25 are preferably disposed and positioned on the plate it! so as to partially overlie end portions of the channels l2 normally extending beneath and beyond the band 24, and the clips are formed with :lugs 3! extending downwardly from their vertical, shorter arm portions, to engage within and obstruct saidchannels l2 beneath and immediately adjacent the lower margin of the band portion 24 bridging said channels; the lugs 3|. thus constituting movable dams adjustable along the channels 12 to prevent escape of plastic material through said channels and under the band 24.

The combination thus far described completes a sole-formingmouldadjustable into conformity against instep portions of the article sole. After the mould has been properly adjusted, the article to be repaired is removed and the bottom of the article is buffed or smoothed off and the wearsole, trimmed to conform to the article, is pasted to the bottom of the article with vulcanizing cement, whereafter thearticle is again inserted in the mould, pressure is applied within the article to press the lower surface of the article tightly'against the wear-sole and to press the wearsole against the mould, and heat is applied to and through the plate 10 to soften the Wear-sole, whereuponthe pressure forces the softened material into the channels i2, and into the other depressions in the mould, and continued heat vulcanizes the sole to the article and cures the sole.

Conventional heat-treating and vulcanizing equipment normally includes an element for applying pressure to hold 'an'article against the operating surface of the apparatus, and such an element is shown conventionally in perpendicu- Where it is desired to individually clamp the clips to the plate ID, as at the drawings, the pressure foot comprises separa- I bletoeand heel p01'ti0ns,.the toe portion consisting ofv a flat'plate 34, curved atits forward portion to fit withinthe toe portion of anarticle of foot-wear, having a length sufiicient to extend rearwardly into covering relation with at least a portion of the article instep, tapered rearwardly to accommodate the narrow instep section, and having its lower surface undercut to-aecommodate the upward inclination of said. instep section. The heel portion of the pressure foot assembly includes a flat, suitably-contoured, plate 35 engageable within and in bearing engagement against the heelof an article of footwear, and a somewhat narrower, straight tongue 36 fixed to the :upper portion of the plate 35 to extend forwardly through the instep section in overlying, bearing engagement against'the upper surface of the majorportion of the toe plate 34, so that, when the pressure foot is assembled within the article of foot-wear in the position shown in Figure 2, the pressure-head 33 may be brought into bearing engagement with the upper surface of the tongue 36 forthe application of the desired pressure through the elements 34 and 35 to the toe and heel sections, respectively, of the article of foot-wear. While the toeand heel portions of the pressure foot may be employed as entirely separate units, it is convenient to providemeans for positively associating said units in the 'desired operative relationship, and one form of such means is illustrated as comprising alongitudinal recess in and opening through the lower surface of the tongue 3B,and an arrn 31 hinged at its forward end to and extending rearwardly from a block 38 flxed'to theupper surface of the unit 34, said arm 37 being thus disposed for actuation through "a vertical arc and being 1 of a length and size'to engage within and substantially fill the longitudinal recess in the tongue 35. v With the arrangement shown, the heel unit may receive the arm 31 in its longitudinal recess and be thus positively positioned, when moved into bearing engagement of its tongue 36 against the upper surface of the unit 34, in the desired relationship with the toe portion of the pressure foot, the arm 31 operating to' determine the longitudinal and lateral relationship of said units. When it is desired to insertor. remove the pressure foot relative to the article of foot-wear, liftingof the heel unit results in arcuate upward travel of the arm 3'! and consequent forward as well as upward travel of the heel unit, thus reducing the length of the assembly, facilitating separation of the heel and toe units, and simplifying manipulation of the pressure foot relative to its associated article of foot-wear.

As will be readily apparent, the improved method may be utilized for the half-soling of articles of foot-wear, in whichcase only the sole and instep portions of the matrix plate will be utilized in outlining and aflixing relation with corresponding portions of an article of foot-wear and the new material constituting the half-sole. Since many changes, variations, and modifications, in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the app nded claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim: I r

1'. A foot-wear sole mould, comprising a plate defining the bottom of the sole and instep, flexible means adjustably upstanding from said plate adapted-to be flexed into marginal conformity with the sole and instep of an article of foot Wear, means for flexing-said flexible means into, and for maintaining, 'such'conformity, and means for pressure-urging an article of foot-Wear toward said plate. Y

9 2. A foot-wear sole mould, comprising aheatconductiveplate defining the bottoms of the sole and instep, flexible means adjustably upstanding from said plate adapted to be flexed into marginal conformity with the sole and instep of I an article or foot-wear, means for flexing said flexible means into, and maintaining, such marginal conformity and means for'pressure-urging an articleof foot-wear toward said plate with in'the limits of said marginal outlining means.

3. A foot-wear 's'ole" mould, comprising a heatconductive plate def ning-"the bottom of the sole and instep, channels-"intersecting the sole portion of said plate, flexible means*adju'stably upstanding froms'aid plate adapted to be flexed into marginal conformity-with the sole and in- .step of an article of foot-wear, clips adapted to flex saidflexible means into said'marginal conformity, said 'clips having depending portions adaptedto adjustably obstruct said channels, and

rging" an article of footmeans for pressurewear" toward said plate.-

4.-In a mould of the character described, a

heat-conductive plate defining the bottoms of the sole, heel and instep,a heel cupremovably associated in outlining relation with'said heel portion, adjustable flanges upstanding fromsaid plate and cooperating with said heel'cup to marginally defined an instep portion, a flexible-band looped around the sole portion'of and slidingly resting upon said plate and having its ends within and in sliding engagement with said flanges, means for flexing said band and for clamping it tosaid plate, and means for pressure-urging an article of foot-wear toward said plate within the outline defined byf'said band,flanges and cup.

5. In a mould of the character described, a

heat-conductiveplate defining the bottom of. the sole and heel interconnected by a relatively elevated instep portion, cleat-forming means in,- tersecting the surface of said, sole portion of the plate, a removable and replaceable cup adapted to outline said heel and beingopen' into reg istration with said instep portion, flexible band means adjustably upstanding fromsaid instep and sole portions adapted to be'flexed to marginally conform with the outline of an article of foot-wear, means carried by said plateanden gageable'with said flexible means to position and hold the latter, and means for pifssure urging an article of foot-Wear toward saidpl-ate within the outline defined by said cup and upstanding means. 6. Ina mould of the character dBSCIibQd'hHV? Inga heat-conductive.matrixplate formed with sole and heel impressions interconnected by a relat vely elevated instep portion, a heel-outlining cup removably upstanding from saidflplate about said heel impression and opening into registration with said instep portionpmeans forv clamping said cup t'o said plate,-instep-outlin'-- mg flanges adjustably upstanding from the in and a flexibleband upstanding from and about the soleimpression of said plate with its free ends slidably engaging within the diverging portions. i

11. In a mould of the character described havirig a heat-conductive matrix plate formed with a cooperating sole portion and instep impression, andinstepeoutlining flanges adjustably upstanding from ,said plate, relatively wide, cleat-forming channels intersecting the sole portion of said plate in parallel, outwardly and forwardly diverging relation with the longitudinal median line ciated with said heel impression, flanges ad-justably; upstanding from, said plate in cooperation with said cup to marginally define said instep. portion, a flexible band upstanding from the sole portion of said plate with its free ends'slidably engaging said flanges for adjustment into marginal conformity with the outline of a sole portion of an article of foot-wear, a plurality ofg-clamps slidably carried by said plate .andengagea-ble with and against said band tohold the latter in adjusted relation on said plate, and

means for pressure-urging Ian a'rticle-of-iootweartoward said platewithin the outline defined by said cup, flanges andlbandv.

8. Inv a mouldoi the character described ineluding, a plate havingheel, sole and instep portions, and heel and instep defining elements upstanding in outlining relation with the heel and instep portions of said plate, cleat-forming channels intersecting the sole.portionofsaid'plata-a flexible band upstanding from the sole portion of said plate adapted to be flexedlinto marginal conformity with the sole outline of an article of foot-wear, clamp elements adjustably carried by said plate inpartially-overlying relation with end portions-of said channels adapted to flex and hold said band in adjusted relation on said plate, and extensions from said clamp elements slidably engaging within said channels to "adjustably obstruct-said channels. j

9. In a mould of the character described having a sole-forming matrix plate and means upstanding therefrom foradjustment into marginal conformity with the outline of an article of footwear, means for pressure-urging an article of foot-wear toward said plate,- said means comprising a pressure foot including a toe plate engageable within the toe portion of an article of (foot-wear and formed with a rearwardly and upwardly tapered extension adapted to engage the instep portion of said article, a heel plate engageablein bearin'g'relation' with the heel portion of said article, an upwardly-offset tongue on said heel plate in overlying relation with the rearward extension of, said toe plate, a downwardlyopening longitudinal recess in the under surface of said tongue, a lug on said toe plate engageable within ,one end of said recess, and ,a rearwardly-ex'tending arm hinged to said lug for actuation through a'verticalarc for engagement withinsa'id recess to substantially fill the latter when said tongue is'in bearing relation against said toe plate and extension, and means for applying pressure to the portion of said'tongue overlying said toe plate extension.

' T0 Ina'mould of the character described having a heateconductive plate formed with a sole portion cooperating with a relativelylelevated instepportion, instep-outlining flanges adjustably upstanding from the instep portion of said plate and diverging forwardly to embrace the adja-- cent rearwardportion of said sole impression of said sole impression, a flexible band upstanding from the sole impression of said plate in bridging relation across outer portions of said channels for slidable engagement of its rearw'ardly-disposed free ends within and against forward portions of said flanges, a plurality of clamps slidably carried by said plate'for adjustment laterally and longitudinally thereof and engageable with and against said band to hold the latter in adjusted relation on said plate, said ,clampspartially overlying portions of said channels extending outwardly beyond said band, ex-

tensions depending from said clamps adjacent said band and slidably engaging within the corresponding channels to obstruct the latter, and

means for holding said clamps to said plate in their adjusted positions as determined by engagement of their extensions within'said channels.

, 12. In apparatus for forming and attaching soles to foot-wear, a matrix plate for the bottom of the sole, a looped flexible band adapted to be flexed to define the edges of the sole, band-end confining means at the rear of the sole portion of the plate adapted to prevent outward movement while permitting longitudinal movement of the ends of the band, and clips adjustably attached to the plate and adapted to confine the band against movement outward from said soledefining position.

, 13. In apparatus as defined in claim 12, said plate having channels adapted to mould cleats on the soles and said clips carrying downward projections having a sliding fit in the channels whereby to adjustably dam said channels against exudation of sole-forming material.

flex said band and means for locking said flexing,

means whereby to hold said band in said flexed position. l

15. In apparatus of the class described, means for pressure-urging an article of foot-wear toward at base plate, said means including a pressure foot having separable toe and heel elements adapted to interrelatively overlap, means for interengaging said elements when spaced apart, said interengaging means being adapted to permit said elements to move into overlapping contact and to longitudinal interrelatively extend said elements during such movement and means for applying pressure to the overlapped elements. 1 6. In-a structure as defined in claim 15, said interengaging means being adapted to limit lateral interrelative movement of said elements when overlapped.

, GUY D. NEVILLS. 

